Slave Trade Act of 1794

The Slave Trade Act of 1794 was a law passed by the United States on 22 March 1794 that prohibited the carrying of slaves on US ships, the first of many acts that limited slavery in America. The US no longer passed on slaves to other countries, and captains of slave ships could be fined $2,000 and possibly have their ships taken away, as was the case for Rhode Island merchant John Brown in August 1795.